Distribution of broadcast traffic through a mesh network

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and apparatuses for supporting broadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One method includes obtaining broadcast listening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein the broadcast listening information includes an identifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device. The method further includes obtaining broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device. The method further includes providing broadcast listening information of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/927,920, filed Jan. 15, 2014 which is hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS

The described embodiments relate generally to wireless communications.More particularly, the described embodiments relate to systems, methodsand apparatuses for distributing broadcast traffic through a wirelessmesh network.

BACKGROUND

In computer networking, broadcast includes the delivery of a message orinformation to a group of destination computers simultaneously in asingle transmission from the source. For an embodiment, broadcast isimplemented as an IP broadcast or the layer-2 broadcast which mayinclude non-IP frames. However, presently, layer 3 (IP based) meshnetworks cannot send layer 2 broadcast frames natively and reliably.

In order for broadcast to operate properly in a wireless mesh network,routers within the wireless mesh network need to know whether any clientdevices connected to the wireless mesh network are a member of abroadcast group.

It is desirable to have methods, systems and apparatuses forimplementing a wireless mesh network that facilitates distribution ofbroadcasting traffic through the wireless mesh network.

SUMMARY

An embodiment includes a wireless mesh network gateway. The gatewayincludes one or more transceivers for communicating with other devicesof a wireless mesh network, and a processor. The processor is operativeto obtain broadcast listening information of a broadcast listeningaccess node, wherein the broadcast listening access node is downstreamfrom the gateway, and the broadcast listening access node is connectedto a broadcast listening device, and wherein the broadcast listeninginformation includes an identifier of the broadcast listening accessnode, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device. Theprocessor is further operative to obtain broadcast sourcing informationof a broadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcingaccess node is downstream from the gateway, and the broadcast sourcingaccess node is connected a broadcast sourcing device, and wherein thebroadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcastsourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcastsourcing device. The processor is further operative to provide thebroadcast listening information of the broadcast listening access nodeto the broadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcastidentifier of the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcastidentifier of the broadcast listening device.

An embodiment includes a wireless mesh network. The wireless meshnetwork includes a first gateway and second gateway. The first gatewayis operative to obtain broadcast listening information of a broadcastlistening access node, wherein the broadcast listening access node isdownstream from the first gateway, and the broadcast listening accessnode is connected to a broadcast listening device, and wherein thebroadcast listening information includes an identifier of the broadcastlistening access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcastlistening device, and exchange the broadcast listening information andthe broadcast sourcing information with a second gateway within thewireless mesh network. The second gateway is operative to obtainbroadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node,wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from the secondgateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected a broadcastsourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcing information includesan identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcastidentifier the broadcast sourcing device, and provide broadcastlistening information of the broadcast listening access node to thebroadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifierof the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device.

An embodiment includes a method of supporting broadcast traffic througha wireless mesh network. The method includes obtaining, by a gateway ofthe wireless mesh network, broadcast listening information of abroadcast listening access node, wherein the broadcast listening accessnode is downstream from the gateway, and the broadcast listening accessnode is connected to a broadcast listening device, and wherein thebroadcast listening information includes an identifier of the broadcastlistening access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcastlistening device. The method further includes obtaining, by the gateway,broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node,wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from thegateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected a broadcastsourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcing information includesan identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast sourcing device. The method further includesproviding, by the gateway, broadcast listening information of thebroadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access nodeupon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcingdevice matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice.

An embodiment includes another method of supporting broadcast trafficthrough a wireless mesh network. The method includes obtaining, by afirst gateway of the wireless mesh network, broadcast listeninginformation of a broadcast listening access node, wherein the broadcastlistening access node is downstream from the first gateway, and thebroadcast listening access node is connected to a broadcast listeningdevice, and wherein the broadcast listening information includes anidentifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast listening device, and the first gatewayexchanging the broadcast listening information and the broadcastsourcing information with a second gateway within the wireless meshnetwork. The method further includes obtaining, by the second gateway,broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node,wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from the secondgateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected a broadcastsourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcing information includesan identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcastidentifier the broadcast sourcing device. The method further includesproviding, by the second gateway, broadcast listening information of thebroadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access nodeupon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcingdevice matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice.

Other aspects and advantages of the described embodiments will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example theprinciples of the described embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a wireless network that includes a gateway, multiple accessnodes and a client device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a wireless network that includes a gateway, multiple accessnodes and client devices, wherein one of the client devices is abroadcast listening device, and one of the client devices is a broadcastsourcing device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a wireless network that includes multiple gateways,multiple access nodes and client devices, wherein one of the clientdevices is a broadcast listening device, and one of the client devicesis a broadcast listening device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that includes steps of a method of distributingbroadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 5 show a gateway and corresponding processor operations, accordingto an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described provide systems, methods and apparatuses fordistributing broadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network.

It is to be understood that while the following descriptions may befocused on broadcast traffic, the described embodiments can be appliedgenerally to multicast traffic. Broadcast is a term used to describecommunication where a piece of information is sent from one point to allother points that are within the same Layer 2 domain, or broadcastdomain. In this case there is just one sender, but the information issent to all connected receivers that are within the broadcast domain.Multicast is a term used to describe communication where a piece ofinformation is sent from one or more points to a set of other points. Inthis case there, may be one or more senders, and the information isdistributed to a set of receivers, where the set of multicast receiversmay be empty or may contain multiple receivers.

Further, while the following described embodiments are presented aswireless mesh networks, the described embodiments can be applied towired mesh networks as well.

Broadcast transmissions typically only reach recipients that are withina same Layer 2 domain (for example, connected together through a hub orwithin the same wireless broadcast neighborhood). Broadcasttransmissions typically do not propagate through Layer 3 routers, whichisolate broadcast domains from each other. By contrast, IP-basedmulticast allows the multiple recipients to be located in differentbroadcast domains, so long as they're reachable via IP transmissions andso long as the intermediate routers support IP multicast.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless network that includes a gateway 120, multipleaccess nodes 121, 122, 123, 124 and a client device 125. As shown, agateway 120 is interfaced with an upstream network 110. The gateway 120typically includes a high-bandwidth connection to the upstream network110 which can be wired or wireless. Further, the upstream network 110can include wired and wireless links. For an embodiment, the gateway 120is an access node that originates routing beacons.

For at least some embodiments, each of the access nodes 121, 122, 123,124 selects a routing path to the gateway 120. Through the routingpath(s), the access nodes 121, 122, 123, 124 are coupled either directlyor indirectly to the gateway 120. That is, each access node is eitherdirectly connected to the upstream gateway 120, or indirectly connectedthrough another access node to the upstream gateway 120. Many factorscan be included in the decision of which access nodes or gateways eachaccess node is connected. Clearly, the network of FIG. 1 can include anynumber of additional gateways and/or access nodes.

For an embodiment, the gateway 120 broadcasts routing packets (beacons),which can be used to determine routing between the access nodes 121,122, 123, 124 and the gateways 120 of the network. For this embodiment,the routing beacons are received by all first-level access nodes (forexample, access node 121), which are access nodes that are able toreceive gateway transmitted beacons, and directly route data through tothe gateway 120.

As previously stated, for an embodiment, the beacons are used toestablish a route from each access node to the gateway. For anembodiment, the first level access nodes re-broadcast the beacon data,attaching their own information to the routing beacon. The informationindicates to the second level access nodes (such as, access nodes 122,124) that the path to the gateway includes the first level access node.The wireless mesh network can include any number of levels of accessnodes.

For an embodiment, each access nodes selects a routing path to anavailable gateway based on a signal quality of routing beacons receivedby the access node. For example, an access node may receive routingbeacons through one or more routing paths to one or more upstreamgateways. For an embodiment, the access node selects that routing paththat is determined to be of the highest quality. For an embodiment, thehighest quality routing path is the routing path that provides theaccess node with the highest persistence of receive routing beacons.Once a routing path has been selected, for an embodiment, the accessnode communicates the selected path up to the gateway of the selectedrouting path.

FIG. 2 shows a wireless network that includes a gateway 120, multipleaccess nodes 221, 222, 223, 224 and a client devices 225, 227, whereinone of the client devices is a broadcast listening device 225, and oneof the client devices is a broadcast sourcing device 227, according toan embodiment. As previously described, for an embodiment, each accessnode communicates its selected routing path up to the gateway of theselected routing path.

For at least some embodiments, the gateway 120 includes one or moretransceivers for communicating with other devices (such as access nodesor the upstream network) of a wireless mesh network and a processor. Foran embodiment, the processor of the gateway 120 is operative to obtainbroadcast listening information of the broadcast listening access node225, wherein the broadcast listening access node 223 is downstream fromthe gateway 120. The broadcast listening access node 223 is connected tothe broadcast listening device 225, and the broadcast listeninginformation includes an identifier of the broadcast listening accessnode 223, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device225. For an embodiment, the broadcast listening information is obtainedby the gateway 120 at the time the gateway 120 receives the routinginformation from the broadcast listening access node 223.

For at least some embodiments, the gateway 120 is further operative toobtain broadcast sourcing information of the broadcast sourcing accessnode 224, wherein the broadcast sourcing access node 224 is downstreamfrom the gateway 120, and the broadcast sourcing access node 224 isconnected the broadcast sourcing device 227. For at least someembodiments, the broadcast sourcing information includes an identifierof the broadcast sourcing access node 224, and a broadcast identifier ofthe broadcast sourcing device 227. For an embodiment, the broadcastsourcing information is obtained by the gateway 120 at the time thegateway 120 receives the routing information from the broadcast sourcingaccess node 224.

For at least some embodiments, the gateway 120 is further operative toprovide the broadcast listening information of the broadcast listeningaccess node 223 to the broadcast sourcing access node 224 upondetermining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device224 matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device223.

While the broadcast listening access node 223 is shown connected to asingle broadcast listening device 225, it is to be understood the accessnode 223 can have any number of broadcast listening devices and anynumber of broadcast sourcing device connected to it. Further, while thebroadcast sourcing access node 224 is shown connected to a singlebroadcast sourcing device 227, it is to be understood the access node224 can have any number of broadcast listening devices and any number ofbroadcast sourcing device connected to it.

Exemplary broadcast sourcing devices include a client device connectedto an Ethernet interface of an access node that sends UDP data on aspecific port number using broadcast/multicast IP address(255.255.255.255), or multicast IP address (for example, 224.x.y.z), orGOOSE protocol. The client device may also be connected to the wirelessinterface of access node. For at least some embodiments, encapsulatingmulticast data in a UDP packet means the broadcast data is sent as thepayload of a new IP/UDP packet.

For at least some embodiments, the broadcast sourcing access node 224receives broadcast packets from the broadcast sourcing device 227connected to the sourcing access node 224. For at least someembodiments, the sourcing access node 224 encapsulates the broadcastpackets into unicast packets, and unicast transmits the unicast packetsthrough the wireless mesh network to the broadcast listening access node223. For at least some embodiments, the unicast packets include adestination IP address that is an IP address of the broadcast listeningaccess node 223. For at least some embodiments, the unicast packets areunicast transmitted to an IP address of the broadcast listening accessnode 223. For at least some embodiments, the broadcast listening accessnode 223 receives the encapsulated packets, de-encapsulates theencapsulated packets, and transmits the de-encapsulated packets to thebroadcast listening device 225.

At least some of the described embodiments include sending layer 2broadcast (for example, unicast packets that include encapsulated thebroadcast packets) frames (for example, Ethernet frames) over a layer-3wireless mesh network. There are many different types of broadcastframes, such as, GOOSE, RNRP, UDP-broadcast, or even serial data sent byclient devices. For at least some embodiments, the client device isattached to an AN (Access Node) of the mesh networks. One or more otherclient devices that are interested in receiving the broadcast frames ortraffic are attached to other remote ANs. For at least some embodiments,client devices broadcast a specific frame type to a selective group ofclient device listeners (broadcast listening device). A broadcast sourcedevice is a client device that is broadcasting and a broadcast listeningdevice is a client device that is listening or receives the broadcast.For at least some embodiments, a network operator assigns a unique IDcalled ‘broadcast ID’ to refer a specific group of client devices whoare broadcasting(sending) and listening(receiving) a specific broadcastframe type. For at least some of the described embodiments, thebroadcast ID is the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice and/or the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device.As previously stated, it is to be understood that any AN can havemultiple broadcasters (broadcast sourcing devices), listeners (broadcastlistening devices) or both broadcasters and listeners. An AN thatincludes both broadcaster and listener device is a client device thatboth sends and receives broadcast frames. For at least some embodiments,the client devices are attached to the AN through a wired connection.For at least some embodiments, the client devices are attached to the ANthrough a wireless connection.

For at least some embodiments, all broadcast listening access nodes andbroadcast sourcing access nodes include broadcast sourcing devicesand/or broadcast listening devices register with an upstream gateway(within the same cluster) their AN IP addresses and the broadcast-IDs ofthe listeners and the broadcasters attached to them. The cluster gatewaythen builds a table (i.e., broadcast table′) containing for eachbroadcast-ID who are the broadcasters and the listeners (that is, the IPaddresses of the corresponding ANs).

For example, if the AN 223 has a broadcast listening device 225 withbroadcast-ID=5, then the AN 223 registers with the cluster gateway 120(AN1-IPaddr, listener:5). Further, for example, if the AN 224 has abroadcast sourcing device 227 with broadcast-ID=5, then the AN 224registers with the same cluster gateway 120 (AN2-IPaddr, broadcaster:5).The cluster gateway 120 than builds a table 290 of (broadcast-ID=5,broadcaster:AN2-IPaddr, listener:AN1-IPaddr). The cluster gateway 120then notifies the AN 224 that for broadcast-ID=5, the listener: isAN1-IPaddr. When the AN 224 receives the broadcast traffic sourceassociated with broadcast-ID=5, the AN 224 encapsulates the traffic withthe unicast UDP packet and send it to the AN 223 directly. For multiplebroadcast listener devices, the unicast packet is sent multiple times.

For at least some embodiment, the broadcast source AN 224 encapsulatesthe broadcast frames from the client devices with unicast IP packetsspecifically UDP packets with the UDP port number known only in the meshnetwork. Next, the broadcast source AN 224 sends these UDP packets toall ANs that have broadcast listening devices with the same broadcastID. Once the UDP packets have arrived at the remote broadcast listeningAN 223, the packet is de-encapsulated and the broadcast payload is sentdirectly to the corresponding broadcast listening client devices. Thebroadcast source AN 224 obtains updates of all the broadcast listener IPaddresses from the cluster gateway 120.

As previously described, for at least some embodiments the broadcastlistening access node 223 and the broadcast sourcing access node 224each select an upstream gateway (shown as gateway 120) based on arouting selection protocol. At least some embodiments further includethe broadcast listening access node 223 updating its selected upstreamgateway (again, shown as gateway 120) with the broadcast listeninginformation, and the broadcast sourcing access node 224 updating itsselected upstream gateway (again, shown as gateway 120) with thebroadcast sourcing information.

For at least some embodiments, the identifier of the broadcast listeningaccess node includes an IP address of the broadcast listening accessnode. For an embodiment, the identifier of the broadcast sourcing accessnode includes an IP address of the broadcast sourcing access node.

For at least some embodiments, the identifier of the broadcast sourcingaccess node includes an IP address of the broadcast sourcing accessnode. For at least some embodiments, the updating is periodic. For atleast some embodiments, a roaming listening access node updates a morerecently selected upstream device or upstream gateway with its broadcastlistening information.

For at least some embodiments, the gateway exchanges the broadcastlistening information with other gateways within the wireless meshnetwork. At least some embodiments further include the sourcing accessnode receiving broadcast packets from the broadcast sourcing deviceconnected to the sourcing access node, and the sourcing access nodeencapsulating the broadcast packets into unicast packets, and unicasttransmitting the unicast packets through a first gateway of a firstcluster and a second gateway of a second cluster of the wireless meshnetwork to a broadcast listening access node of the second cluster afterdetermining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing devicematches a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device of thesecond cluster.

As described, for at least some embodiments, the gateways only exchangebroadcast listening information. That is, for these embodiments thegateways do not exchange broadcast sourcing information. The gateway ofa cluster only needs to know the sourcing access node from its cluster,it doesn't care about the sourcing access node from the other clusterssince when doing the matching of the broadcast ID of the client devices,it matches the sourcing access node from its cluster against alllistening access nodes from all clusters.

For at least some embodiments, an IP address of the listening accessnode is maintained when the listening access node roams to a differentupstream device or a different cluster.

FIG. 3 shows a wireless network that includes multiple gateways,multiple access nodes and client devices, wherein one of the clientdevices is a broadcast listening device, and one of the client devicesis a broadcast listening device, according to an embodiment. A firstgateway 380 and associated access node 323 form a first cluster, andsecond gateway 320 and associated access nodes 321, 322, 324, form asecond cluster. This embodiment includes distribution of broadcasttraffic through multiple gateways of the wireless mesh network.

As shown, a broadcast listening device 325 is connected to a broadcastlistening access node 323, and the broadcast listening access node isconnected to the first gateway 380. Further, a broadcast source device327 is connected to a broadcast source access node 324 which isconnected to access node 321, which is connected to the second gateway320. Further, the first gateway 380 and the second gateway 320 areconnected to an upstream network 110.

For an embodiment, the first gateway 380 obtains broadcast listeninginformation of the broadcast listening access node 323, wherein thebroadcast listening access node 323 is downstream from the first gateway380. Further, the broadcast listening access node 323 is connected tothe broadcast listening device 325 The broadcast listening informationincludes an identifier of the broadcast listening access node 323, and abroadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device 325.

For an embodiment, the first gateway 380 exchanges the broadcastlistening information and the broadcast sourcing information with thesecond gateway 320 of the wireless mesh network.

For an embodiment, the second gateway 320 obtains broadcast sourcinginformation of the broadcast sourcing access node 324, wherein thebroadcast sourcing access node 324 is downstream from the second gateway320. The broadcast sourcing access node 324 is connected the broadcastsourcing device 327. The broadcast sourcing information includes anidentifier of the broadcast sourcing access node 324, and a broadcastidentifier the broadcast sourcing device 327.

For an embodiment, the second gateway 320 provides broadcast listeninginformation of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcastsourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device.

For at least some embodiments, when the client devices (broadcastlistening or broadcast source device) roams to a different AN, the oldAN unregisters the client device to the cluster gateway and/or thecluster gateway ages-out the entry periodically. A new AN (a broadcastsource AN, a broadcast listening AN, or both) then registers the clientdevice to the new cluster gateway and this also includes updating thecluster gateway table of the new gateway accordingly. For at least someembodiments, when the AN (broadcast listening access node or broadcastsource access node) itself roams to a different AN within the samecluster, there is no change in the cluster gateway table, and everythingoperates as is because the AN keeps its old IP address.

For a least some embodiments, when the client devices or the AN itselfroams to a different AN or gateway in a different cluster gateway, thegateways exchange their broadcast tables. For at least some embodiments,this includes exchanging all the gateway IP addresses. Further, theprior gateway sends its broadcast table to other gateways periodicallyand/or when some entries of the broadcast table have changed.

Each gateway then includes listeners (broadcast listening access nodes)from other gateways when building its broadcast table. However, thebroadcast source access nodes from other gateways may not be included inthe table. When the gateway notifies its broadcast source access nodesof its cluster, the gateway includes broadcast listening access nodesfrom all other gateways that have the same broadcast-ID (matched) as thebroadcast source access node.

When a client device (a listener) roams to a different gateway, the newgateway notifies the original (prior) gateway that has the broadcastsource AN in its cluster by exchanging the broadcast table.

When a broadcast listening AN that has broadcast listening clientdevices attached to it roams to a different gateway, the broadcastlistening AN maintains its same IPaddress even though the broadcastlistening AN has roams to different gateway. In this case, there may becertain period where the AN IPaddress exists in more than one gatewaytables. For an embodiment, each gateway removes the duplicate IPaddresswhen notifying the broadcast source access nodes.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that includes steps of a method of distributingbroadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network, according to anembodiment. A first step 410 includes obtaining, by a gateway of thewireless mesh network, broadcast listening information of a broadcastlistening access node, wherein the broadcast listening access node isdownstream from the gateway, and the broadcast listening access node isconnected to a broadcast listening device, and wherein the broadcastlistening information includes an identifier of the broadcast listeningaccess node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice. For at least some embodiments, the gateway obtains the broadcastlistening information through a notification received from the broadcastlistening access node. A second step 420 includes obtaining, by thegateway, broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing accessnode, wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from thegateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected a broadcastsourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcing information includesan identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast sourcing device. For an embodiment, thegateway obtains the broadcast sourcing information through anotification received from the broadcast sourcing access node. A thirdstep 430 includes providing, by the gateway, broadcast listeninginformation of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcastsourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device.

At least some embodiments further include the broadcast sourcing accessnode receiving broadcast packets from the broadcast sourcing deviceconnected to the broadcast sourcing access node, and the broadcastsourcing access node encapsulating the broadcast packets into unicastpackets, and unicast transmitting the unicast packets through thewireless mesh network to the broadcast listening access node, whereinthe unicast packets include a destination IP address that is an IPaddress of the broadcast listening access node. For at least someembodiments, the unicast packets are unicast transmitted to an IPaddress of the broadcast listening access node. At least someembodiments further include the listening access node receiving theencapsulated packets, de-encapsulating the encapsulated packets, andtransmitting the de-encapsulated packets to the broadcast listeningdevice.

At least some embodiments further include the gateway exchanging thebroadcast listening information with other gateways within the wirelessmesh network. At least some embodiments further include the sourcingaccess node receiving broadcast packets from the broadcast sourcingdevice connected to the sourcing access node, and the sourcing accessnode encapsulating the broadcast packets into unicast packets, andunicast transmitting the unicast packets through a first gateway of afirst cluster and a second gateway of a second cluster of the wirelessmesh network to a broadcast listening access node of the second clusterafter determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcingdevice matches a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening deviceof the second cluster.

As previously described, for at least some embodiments, the gatewaysonly exchange broadcast listening information. That is, for theseembodiments the gateways do not exchange broadcast sourcing information.The gateway of a cluster only needs to know the sourcing access nodefrom its cluster, it doesn't care about the sourcing access node fromthe other clusters since when doing the matching of the broadcast ID ofthe client devices, it matches the sourcing access node from its clusteragainst all listening access nodes from all clusters.

For at least some embodiments, an IP address of the listening accessnode is maintained when the listening access node roams to a differentupstream device or a different cluster.

At least some embodiments further include the listening access node andthe broadcast sourcing access node each selecting an upstream gatewaybased on a routing selection protocol. At least some embodiments furtherinclude the listening access node updating its selected upstream gatewaywith the broadcast listening information, and the broadcast sourcingaccess node updating its selected upstream gateway with the broadcastsourcing information. For at least some embodiments, the identifier ofthe broadcast listening access node includes an IP address of thebroadcast listening access node. For at least some embodiments, theupdating is periodic. For at least some embodiments, a roaming listeningaccess node updates a more recently selected upstream device or upstreamgateway with its broadcast listening information.

FIG. 5 show a gateway and corresponding processor operations, accordingto an embodiment. The gateway 500 includes at least one transceiver 520which the gateway uses for communicating with other devices, such as,downstream access nodes or client devices. Further, the gateway 500includes a wired or wireless link to an upstream network.

The gateway 500 further includes a controller 530 or processor forcontrolling operation of the gateway 500. As described, for at leastsome embodiments, the controller 530 is operative to obtain broadcastlistening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein thebroadcast listening access node is downstream from the gateway, and thebroadcast listening access node is connected to a broadcast listeningdevice, and wherein the broadcast listening information includes anidentifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast listening device. The processor is furtheroperative to obtain broadcast sourcing information of a broadcastsourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcing access node isdownstream from the gateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node isconnected a broadcast sourcing device, and wherein the broadcastsourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcast sourcingaccess node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcingdevice. The processor is further operative to provide the broadcastlistening information of the broadcast listening access node to thebroadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifierof the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device. Further, for at least some embodiments, theprocessor is operative to exchange the broadcast listening informationwith other gateways within the wireless mesh network.

Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, theembodiments are not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangementsof parts so described and illustrated.

What is claimed:
 1. A wireless mesh network gateway, comprising: one ormore transceivers for communicating with other devices of a wirelessmesh network; a processor, the processor operative to: obtain broadcastlistening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein thebroadcast listening access node is downstream from the gateway, and thebroadcast listening access node is connected to a broadcast listeningdevice, and wherein the broadcast listening information includes anidentifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast listening device; obtain broadcast sourcinginformation of a broadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcastsourcing access node is downstream from the gateway, and the broadcastsourcing access node is connected a broadcast sourcing device, andwherein the broadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of thebroadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier of thebroadcast sourcing device; and provide the broadcast listeninginformation of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcastsourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device.
 2. The gateway of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further operative to exchange the broadcast listeninginformation with other gateways within the wireless mesh network.
 3. Amethod of supporting broadcast traffic through a mesh network,comprising: obtaining, by a gateway of the mesh network, broadcastlistening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein thebroadcast listening access node is downstream from the gateway, and thebroadcast listening access node is connected to a broadcast listeningdevice, and wherein the broadcast listening information includes anidentifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast listening device; obtaining, by the gateway,broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node,wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from thegateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected a broadcastsourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcing information includesan identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcastidentifier of the broadcast sourcing device; and providing, by thegateway, broadcast listening information of the broadcast listeningaccess node to the broadcast sourcing access node upon determining thebroadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device matches thebroadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the broadcast listening access node is additionallyconnected to other broadcast listening devices having differentbroadcast identifiers.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the broadcastsourcing access node is additionally connected to other broadcastsourcing devices having different broadcast identifiers.
 6. The methodof claim 3, further comprising the broadcast sourcing access nodereceiving broadcast packets from the broadcast sourcing device connectedto the broadcast sourcing access node, and the broadcast sourcing accessnode encapsulating the broadcast packets into unicast packets, andunicast transmitting the unicast packets through the mesh network to thebroadcast listening access node, wherein the unicast packets include adestination IP address that is an IP address of the broadcast listeningaccess node.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the unicast packets areunicast transmitted to an IP address of the broadcast listening accessnode.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the listening accessnode receiving the encapsulated packets, de-encapsulating theencapsulated packets, and transmitting the de-encapsulated packets tothe broadcast listening device.
 9. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising the gateway exchanging the broadcast listening informationwith other gateways within the mesh network.
 10. The method of claim 9,further comprising the sourcing access node receiving broadcast packetsfrom the broadcast sourcing device connected to the sourcing accessnode, and the sourcing access node encapsulating the broadcast packetsinto unicast packets, and unicast transmitting the unicast packetsthrough a first gateway of a first cluster and a second gateway of asecond cluster of the mesh network to a broadcast listening access nodeof the second cluster after determining the broadcast identifier of thebroadcast sourcing device matches a broadcast identifier of thebroadcast listening device of the second cluster.
 11. The method ofclaim 3, wherein an IP address of the listening access node ismaintained when the listening access node roams to a different upstreamdevice or a different cluster.
 12. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising the listening access node and the broadcast sourcing accessnode each selecting an upstream gateway based on a routing selectionprotocol.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the listeningaccess node updating its selected upstream gateway with the broadcastlistening information, and the broadcast sourcing access node updatingits selected upstream gateway with the broadcast sourcing information.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifier of the broadcastlistening access node includes an IP address of the broadcast listeningaccess node and the identifier of the broadcast sourcing access nodeincludes an IP address of the broadcast sourcing access node.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the updating is periodic.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein a roaming listening access node updates a morerecently selected upstream device or upstream gateway with its broadcastlistening information.
 17. A method of supporting broadcast trafficthrough a mesh network, comprising: obtaining, by a first gateway of themesh network, broadcast listening information of a broadcast listeningaccess node, wherein the broadcast listening access node is downstreamfrom the first gateway, and the broadcast listening access node isconnected to a broadcast listening device, and wherein the broadcastlistening information includes an identifier of the broadcast listeningaccess node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice; the first gateway exchanging the broadcast listening informationwith a second gateway within the mesh network; obtaining, by the secondgateway, broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing accessnode, wherein the broadcast sourcing access node is downstream from thesecond gateway, and the broadcast sourcing access node is connected abroadcast sourcing device, and wherein the broadcast sourcinginformation includes an identifier of the broadcast sourcing accessnode, and a broadcast identifier the broadcast sourcing device; andproviding, by the second gateway, broadcast listening information of thebroadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access nodeupon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcingdevice matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listeningdevice.
 18. A wireless mesh network, comprising: a first gateway andsecond gateway; the first gateway operative to: obtain broadcastlistening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein thebroadcast listening access node is downstream from the first gateway,and the broadcast listening access node is connected to a broadcastlistening device, and wherein the broadcast listening informationincludes an identifier of the broadcast listening access node, and abroadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device; exchange thebroadcast listening information and the broadcast sourcing informationwith a second gateway within the wireless mesh network; the secondgateway operative to: obtain broadcast sourcing information of abroadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcing accessnode is downstream from the second gateway, and the broadcast sourcingaccess node is connected a broadcast sourcing device, and wherein thebroadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcastsourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier the broadcast sourcingdevice; and provide broadcast listening information of the broadcastlistening access node to the broadcast sourcing access node upondetermining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing devicematches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device.